Stirrup buckle



April 18, 1967 E. 1... BLEVINS ETAL STIRRUP BUCKLE Filed Nov. 24, 1964INVENTORS.- fizzy/w c/dA/V M 152 fV/MS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,314,121 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 3,314,121STHRRUP BUCKLE Earl L. Blevins and Joan V. Blevins, both of BoslerRoute, Wheatland, Wyo. 82201 Filed Nov. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 413,540 2Claims. (Cl. 24-181) This invention relates to a stirrup buckle and hasas its primary object the provision of an improved stirrup buckle whichwill facilitate and expedite the changing of stirrup lengths.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a buckleincorporating a removable sleeve and a plate carrying studs which areengaged by the holes in one of the stirrup straps whereby simply byremoving or sliding the sleeve out of position the studs may be engagedin different holes to vary the length of the stirrup.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which will withstand extremely heavy pull, without possibilityof disengagement or slippage of the stirrup.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter incorporating a metal sleeve for effectively clamping thestrap to the studs, the sleeve however being leather covered to preventinjury to the horse or damage to the blanket or saddle.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a buckle ofthis character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable andeificient in operation, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, andextremely easy to manipulate in a rapid and expeditious manner toexpedite the changing of stirrup lengths.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a readilyadjustable buckle which is particularly suited for rodeos, dude ranches,riding academies, etc., where it is necessary to change the stirruplengths frequently.

Other objects will be in part be obvious and in part be pointed out asthe description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanyingdrawing wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of thisinventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a saddle showing a stirrupattached thereto by means of the buckle of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the stirrup buckle ofthe instant invention and portions of its associated straps, certainconcealed parts being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIGURE 2,certain concealed parts being indicated in dotted lines;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded plan view of the buckle per se dissassociatedfrom the straps connected thereto;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 5-5 of FIGURE 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFIGURE 5 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 7-7 of FIGURE 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly toFIGURE 1, there is generally indicated at 10 a saddle of any desiredconventional construction which includes a depending strap 11 having aplurality of spaced openings 12 therein, the strap 11 will hereinafterbe referred to for the purposes of description as the saddle strap.Connected thereto by means of the buckle of the instant inventiongenerally indicated at 13 and to be more fully described hereinafter, isa second double strap 14, which will be hereinafter referred to as astirrup strap, to which is secured a conventional stirrup 15 of anydesired construction or configuration.

The buckle Off the instant invention is comprised of two parts, as bestshown in FIGURE 4, one of which constitutes a plate generally indicatedat 16 and the other of which constitutes a sleeve generally indicated at17. The plate 16 includes a rectangular portion 18 having a series ofholes 19 therein and an elongated substantially rectangular tongue 20offset and laterally projectingfrom a longitudinally extending edgethereof intermediate its opposed ends. The adjacent ends of the stirrupstrap 14 are extended on opposite sides of the plate 18, as indicated byreference numeral 21 (see FIGURE 3), and are secured thereto by means ofrivets 22 which are extended through suitable openings in the strap andthrough the openings 19, thus firmly securing the plate to the stirrupstrap. The tongue 20 is provided with four studs or posts 23, each ofwhich has an outwardly tapered head, a flange 24- and a swaged end 24',which is permannently affixed in suitable longitudinally alignedopenings in tongue 20. The posts or studs 23 are positioned apart adistance substantially equal to the spacing of the holes 12 in saddlestrap 11.

The sleeve 17 is comprises of an inner metal liner 25, which at its rearis provided with offset portions defining a channel 27. The width of thesleeve 17 is substantially equal to the length of the tongue 20, and thewidth of channel 27 is slightly in excess of the width of the tongue 20.The depth of the channel is about equal to the thickness of the tongue24 The spacing between the opposite sidewalls of the inner metal liner25 is about equal to the axial length of the studs 23, which are in turnslightly in excess of the thickness of strap 11. The arrangement is thussuch that when the studs 23 are positioned in selected openings 12 insaddle strap 11, the sleeve 17 first having been moved upwardly alongsaddle strap 11 to permit the proper positioning thereof, andsubsequently moved downwardly, the tongue 20 fits snugly in the channel27 with the ends of the studs 23 abutting against the opposite wall ofinner liner 25 thus securely holding the studs against disassociationfrom their associated openings. 'Ilhe frictional grip of the opposedsidewall of the inner metal liner 25 on adjacent confronting sides ofthe tongue 20 and strap 1:1 is sufficient to preclude the sleeveslipping upwardly on the belt, while the shoulders 30 formed by thejuncture of tongue 29 with plate 18 positively preclude downwardmovement of the sleeve beyond its locking position. The exterior side ofthe inner metal liner 25 is surrounded by a relatively soft leathercovering 31, with the exception of the back of channel 27, whichcovering is secured thereto by lines of rivets 32 which extend along therear of the sleeve on opposite sides of the channel. The top edges ofthe metal liner are cut away as: indicated at 33 in FIGURE 6, as are thebottom edges, to reduce the possibiltiy of the sharp corners thereofscraping or damaging the saddle or blanket.

Obviously where, in the foregoing, when it is desired to change thelength of the stirrup, it is merely necessary to move the sleeve 17upwardly along the strap 11, disengage the studs 23 from the openings inwhich they had been positioned and position them in other selectedopenings 12 either upwardly or downwardly as desired. After theinsertion is made the sleeve is then returned to the position shown inFIGURES 2 and 3, and the buckle is effectively locked againstdisengagement.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved quickly adjustable stirrup 3 buckle which accomplishes all theobjects of this invention, and others, including many advantages ofgreat practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted as merely illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A stirrup buckle for detachably connecting a stirrup strap with asaddle strap, said buckle comprising, in combination, an elongatedsubstantially rectangular plate and a cooperating hollow enlongatedsubstantially rectangular sleeve, said plate including an elongatedsubstantially rectangular tongue offset and projecting laterally from alongitudinally extending edge thereof intermediate a pair of its opposedends, said plate having means thereon engageable with means on one endof said stirrup strap fixedly connecting said stirrup strap on saidplate, said tongue having a plurality of studs projecting laterally awaytherefrom in a direction away from said plate, said saddle strap havingopenings formed in a portion thereof to rele'asa'bly receive and connectsaid studs therein with the free ends of said studs extendingtherebeyond, and said sleeve comprising an elongated substantiallyhollow rectangular member having a continuous side wall provided with aninwardly opening transversely extending channel intermediate the endsthereof, said sleeve defining a closed opening of such dimensions as toslidably receive and frictionally engage said portion of said straddlestrap with said tongue releasa'bly seated in said channel and with saidfree ends of said studs frictionally engaging confronting portions ofthe inner side of said side wall.

2. In the combination of claim 1, said sidewall being surrounded with aleather outer sleeve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 133,904 12/1872Walker 24164 706,468 8/1902 Wellman 5447 2,634,480 4/1953 Ray 24l803,209,423 10/1965 Cattin 24-181 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

E. SIMONSEN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A STIRRUP BUCKLE FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING A STIRRUP STRAP WITH ASADDLE STRAP, SAID BUCKLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATEDSUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR PLATE AND A COOPERATING HOLLOW ELONGATEDSUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SLEEVE, SAID PLATE INCLUDING AN ELONGATEDSUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR TONGUE OFFSET AND PROJECTING LATERAL-L LY FROMA LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING EDGE THEREOF INTERMEDIATE A PAIR OF ITSOPPOSED ENDS, SAID PLATE HAVING MEANS THEREON ENGAGEABLE WITH MEANS ONONE END OF SAID STRRUP STRAP FIXEDLY CONNECTING SAID STIRRUP STRAP ONSAID PLATE, SAID TONGUE HAVING A PLURALITY OF STUDS PROJECTING LATERALLYAWAY THEREFROM IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID PLATE, SAID SADDLE STRAPHAVING OPENINGS FORMED IN A PORTION THEREOF TO RELEASABLY RECEIVE ANDCONNECT SAID STUDS THEREIN WITH THE FREE ENDS OF SAID STUDS EXTENDINGTHEREBEYOND, AND SAID SLEEVE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLYHOLLOW RECTANGULAR MEMBER HAVING A CONTINUOUS SIDE WALL PROVIDED WITH ANINWARDLY OPENING TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING CHANNEL INTERMEDIATE THE ENDSTHEREOF, SAID SLEEVE DEFINING A CLOSED OPENING OF SUCH DIMENSIONS AS TOSLIDABLY RECEIVE AND FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE SAID PORTION OF SAID STRADDLESTRAP WITH SAID TONGUE RELEASABLY SEATED IN